?? for Saiga 12 owners

[Longbow]

Do you guys find it hard to load from close bolt position? Reason I asked, is that I'm having a hard time loading it from close bolt. It ruins the front part of the ammo, hence it won't feed properly. Is this normal or do I have a deffective sample? TIA.

BTW, I'm using Fiochi 00 buck. Mine is imported by Russian American Armory, not EAA's.

 

[sgphoto]

I can load my Saiga 12 with the bolt closed.

However, leaving the loaded mag (5 rds) in will cause some deformation of the top round, enough deformation that I no longer leave the mag in and the bolt closed for long periods of time.

I've not had any problems with the top round feeding after leaving the mag in, but I suppose it could cause the top round to not feed properly due to the flattening effect, particularly if left in the closed bolt position for a very long time.

 

[Longbow]

Does it take some real effort to load it from close bolt? Mine does.
I tried Remington ammo (shorter), same thing happens.

 

[sgphoto]

No real effort with Wolf, Noble, Federal, Winchester buckshot and slugs. I've got three 5 rd mags and all load the same.

I have a March 2006 made RAA.

 

[Bergeron]

Well it's easier to do with the bolt locked back, but after about a straight half hour of yanking it out and sticking it back in, I can do it quickly and reliably.

I'm not too worried about the deformation of the first round in the mag. It's not badly deformed, and the gun will still easily chamber the round.

 

[Longbow]

I'll gonna try it at the range today, if it chokes, It'll be time for some trading again.

 

[fisi]

thats why i got rid of mine........i bought it in the belief it would be a cheap, reliable semi-auto shotgun. it worked well enough, but i had the same problem you did,it mashed the shells and after buying numerous mags i found
that you couldn't leave the mags loaded for over 1 week or the springs would set and then it was a real can of worms.............

 

[Zundfolge]

One thing the Saiga REALLY needs is a "last shot bolt hold open" ... my Tromix converted Saiga 12 doesn't have one and I could really use one.

I don't find too much problem with round deformation (even with #7 birdshot) nor have I had a problem with the magazine that fisi had but I haven't had mine very long.

 

[Bergeron]

Yeah, a last shot bolt hold open would correct the one big diffciency that I find in the Saiga.

Looking at mine, though, I can't imagine any way of making it work that would not involve some major surgery to the shotgun. Then again, mine doesn't have the manual bolt hold open, so I notched the safety lever to do the job.

Anyone have pics of the manual bolt hold open?

 

[Zundfolge]

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=11665

I should get me one of these

 

[Bergeron]

No kidding!? That's great!

I've been saving my dollars to do a massive overhaul on my Saiga, and I've got to include that.

 

[Longbow]

I sanded the inside of the mag and the sides of the follower with fine grit sand paper and ran 20 rounds of remington #4 buck shots........FLAWLESS performance!
No more mashing of the top round. Well, there's a little ding present, but I can live with that.

I'm happy now!

 

[EddieCoyle]

I've experienced no round-mashing, but yeah, you really gotta stuff it in.

 

[Correia]

There is a trick that is actually a much faster way to load. This is how I do it in competition. I have some of the old 8 rounders, that I can actually force 9 into, and believe me, those ain't going in on a closed bolt.

I shoot with my left hand holding the magazine as a vertical foregrip.

On the last shot, I reach up with my right hand, (left still holding the mag, gun still on shoulder) and pull back the charging handle. I hold it back with my trigger finger, with my thumb grasping the receiver.

Now with my right hand holding the gun still against my shoulder, I drop the magazine with my left, and grab another mag with my left (from my vest). I rock and lock the mag into place, with the left hand automatically going into position (using the mag as vertical foregrip).

Then I just let go of the charging handle (chambering another round) and move my right hand back into firing position.

I can do this under 2 seconds on the clock, in a match, even while on the move.

 

[Bergeron]

Corriea, that sounds like a great technique. You are the Saiga guru!

 

[Correia]

Yes, yes I am.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I gotta say, when Corriea is "on" that thing sounds almost full-auto.

And after observing him: If you take the time to master his technique it's extremely fast.

 

[jlbraun]

Regarding the leaving-mag-in-gun-loaded-first-shell-mashing problem, I just load the top of the magazine with a slug instead of 00 buck. The slug doesn't deform like the buck shell does.

 

[Boom-stick]

Correia,

Do the mags fit in standard AK vest pockets or have you got customs?

Looking at a *12* myself but here in the UK SG's must have a minimum 24" barrel, and that looks kinda odd?

Dan

 

[Correia]

Two 5 round mags will fit sideways in a NATO standard 3 mag M16 pouch.

Or if you have a vest that uses velcro tabs to adjust (like the FBMG ACS) then you just lengthen out the tabs until they fit.

A kydex holster company, C.O.M., out of Idaho, is making kydex holders for the 5 and new 10 round magazines. They are supposed to send me a bunch for testing.

 

[Third_Rail]

you couldn't leave the mags loaded for over 1 week or the springs would set

Springs don't set like that.

 

[Correia]

Yep, springs wear out from work. Not from being in one position.

 

[HMMurdock]

I've found it handy to rest the buttstock on my thigh while I hold open the bolt and throw in the magazine, then let go of the bolt and let it wrack the first round in. Either kneel down or flamingo-stand it, but it works for me. Not as fast as I'd think a Semi-auto should, but it works. I suspect they were just not designed for "quick" tactical reload...

TRL

 

[Wakal]

Undercut the bolt and polish.

That "hand switching, bolt holding" dance is a waste of time. Economy of motion means fast




Alex

 

[HMMurdock]

I like that idea. How dangerous is it if we undercut too deep and is this something we can do or is it best left to a quallified gunsmith?

TRL